Nike discontinues self-lacing 'Back to the Future' shoes and pulls app from App Store and Google Play
Tech & AI | July 6, 2024, 5:24 a.m.
Nike is discontinuing their Adapt app, which controls the custom adjustments for their $350 self-lacing shoes. The app will be removed from app stores on August 6, 2024, but the shoes will still function without it. However, users will lose the ability to change lighting and move functionality to a new phone. While some core functions will still work directly on the shoes, losing phone connectivity is a significant loss for the expensive smart footwear. This move raises concerns about the future of smart clothing and the value of investing in high-tech apparel. Nike reassured users that if they already have the app installed, they can still enjoy some features like personalized fits, gesture detection, and smart commands. Overall, this development has implications for current and future buyers of smart footwear and highlights the potential challenges of integrating technology into fashion.